Advice on space invaders themed marquee

[shateredsoul]

I quickly came up with this fast draft of a marquee, i thought it should resemble the control pane (pictured below), what do you guys think? Is it too similar? Ignore the name, it's only a place holder. I still have to come up with a name for the cab.

[bkenobi]

I don't mean to be mean, but I hate the font.  It really doesn't match the blocky invaders you have floating around.  Perhaps you could find a font that matches better.  The background is not bad.

[Turnarcades]

Go with the classic Namco font.

[Marsupial]

is the font trying to look like aquatic?

I personally don't quite like the font either. And would rather have only "arcade" then "retro arcade". But that's just me.

[jfunk]

Maybe a 'blockier' font...?  Like this..?

[wweumina]

Maybe a 'blockier' font...?  Like this..?

'Blockier' font - yes.
That implementation - probably not.

Name - Shattered memories?

[Marsupial]

I don't like that implementation either... but the font surely is closer to something that looks like space invaders.

Maybe a mix?

I personally don't like the "retro" or "ancient" styled names... some of those games still live nowaday (Tetris, Street Fighter, etc.) so saying they are mere memory, or dead games from the past, isn't my fav.

I don't quite like the "multigame" styled names either.

honestly, that's why I haven't choosen a name yet for my cab. lol.

[shateredsoul]

That blocky fon't looks nice.  Is that a font that can be downloaded though?

The Namco font is also a good idea, anyone know what that font is called?

Marsupial,  Yeah I agree.  I don't like the retro, dead, classic, multi arcade names either.  The only issues is that I have nothing so name or marque yet, and my arcade is almost finished.  My wife and I are going to invite some friends over and have an 80's themed party so I really need to have a name on it, or something.  It's hard for me to think of any names since they all sound cheesy to me.  I am a little embarrassed to use shattered memories because no one will get it, I only use that name when I play on line, and why would they be shattered? They're good memories 

I was also wondering what you guys thought about the design other than the name? I thought it would be good to have the background of the marquee match the cp backround.  I also put the space invader guys in random spots... it would be cool if I could have some of the words chipped away, as if the space invaders had shot at it.. maybe that would look lame, not sure yet.

[HanoiBoi]

It's definitely very similar to the control panel.  A couple quick thoughts...along with changing the font style, you might want to consider making it much bigger.

With all that blue...in a darkened room, that could remind one of a BSOD, which doesn't necessarily 'attract'.

Another thought that *just* came to me...you could title it ARCADE, but try to create your own Space Invaders that would resemble those letters.  Make it subtle enough and it would just look like 6 Space Invaders...with a hidden message.  The invader guy in the top row sure resembles an A...  Yeah, it might be a bit much.

I also agree that all the retro style names out there are a bit cheesy.  My cab has an original marquee, which is pretty retro.  We don't have a name for it, but we simply call it 'the arcade machine'.  

Good luck and be sure to post pictures from the party!  And make sure you have a few Rubik's Cubes kicking around for entertainment.  

[Turnarcades]

Here's a selection of fonts I've found very handy for cabinet art purposes:



I've uploaded them into a small RAR file here if you want them:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7JQGE6BV

[shateredsoul]

That's a great idea to just to title it "arcade".  I know it may seem unoriginal, but in someway it's more creative than using classic arcade or those type of names.

Thanks for the font turnarcades I'll see if I can draft something new tonight.

[jfunk]

I think that first one from Turnarcades is what I used in my 'INVADER' marquee..  But I stretched the font a bit so they weren't as squared...

When I was designing mine, someone suggested replacing the squares in the font with small invaders..  Like the pattern they're coming down in is the name of the arcade...  Cheesy?  Yes.  Time-consuming?  Yes.  Worth it........?  

[Marsupial]

I like the name "arcade"  its not unimaginative, its descriptive. And in my opinion way better then having something lame.

One that I saw online that I liked had the words "game not over" on it. I liked that too. Kinda similar to retro, memories, but with a better game-related twist IMHO.


As for the design itself, if you change the fonts, its great IMO. I like that it matches the CP and have random invaders.

[DeLuSioNal29]

On mine, I chose not to name it anything (green invader cab).  It's the same theme and I believe you have the Invader Photoshop file I gave you with all the colors to choose from.

Why not just no text at all?

Here they are together for comparison:



Love the CPO by the way.  It came out great!

DeLuSioNaL29

[shateredsoul]

Yeah I really like the cp! I posted it on another thread and thanked you for the art.  It looks really great with the trackball in there, someday I'll get a spinner.

I dunno, I just feel like it's suppose to have a name.  Maybe not.  I might try printing it from my printer just to see how both would look. 

[JustMichael]

Maybe make the invader smaller and call it "Arcade Invader".

[RayB]

I vote in favor of Delusional's suggestion

[shateredsoul]

Delusional, can you share your marquee photoshop file again? I know it's at EMDKAY but I have to resize the marquee. When I tried using the one you shared the space invader stretched a bit.

[luc12412]

Hello,

Sorry for bumping this topic after such a long time, but I'm working on a tabletop arcade and I need some help with the marquee. The cabinet is based on the WeeCade. For the way that it was going to look I looked at a lot of pictures and videos of other people's cabinets. I decided to base it on the 'Green Invader' cab made by Delusional. I painted my cabinet completely red to suit it with the the homecinema/party room where the cab is going to be placed. And currently I only need to finish the wiring of the buttons, cut the plexiglass for the bezel and marquee and print a marquee. However that last thing is what I'm having trouble at. I tried to recreate the marquee of the Green Invader but my Photoshop skills just don't allow me to do so. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could send me the Photoshop file of it (preferably in red) or tell me what the effects in the picture are called so I can look up tutorials for it and make it myself. With effects I mean the wavy lines, blocks and the flare behind the Space Invaders sprite. FYI, I'm talking about this picture:


Thanks in advance!
Luc